Interplay, Masthead Team For Project V13 MMO

Interplay Entertainment announced that it signed a deal to fund independent studio Masthead Studios for the development of its massively multiplayer online game code-named Project V13, which is widely speculated to be an MMORPG set in the Fallout world. Interplay's team has been working on the game's design and development since 2007, and will now work with Bulgarian-based Masthead to complete the project. Project V13 will use proprietary tools and MMOG technology that was originally developed for Masthead's Earthrise MMORPG, due for PCs in the second half of 2009. Though Fallout 3 developer and publisher Bethesda acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay in 2004, the latter can still license the rights to the development of an MMO thanks to a clause in their agreement. The Project V13 name seems to reference the Vault 13 starting point in the original Fallout game, and Chris Taylor, the lead designer for the first title, is the lead systems designer for this project. "We are looking forward to turning the vision of our game designers into a compelling online gaming experience," says Interplay chairman and CEO Herve Caen. "The planning and design completed for Project: V13 thus far, combined with Masthead's resources, tools, and growing team of dedicated MMOG developers, will bring this unique game to reality." Masthead Studios president Atanas Atanasov adds, "This arrangement is ideal because it leverages the technology our professionals have specifically built for advanced massively multiplayer online games into what we expect will be a groundbreaking Interplay gaming title."